mockingbird question

I have a very nice mockingbird that has taken up my feeder, problem is, everyone else has left. Only the cardinals are still around the feeder, but on the ground. I had all kinds of little birds. A little black white and yellow bellied one, some titmice, and a little green looking bird. I am also haveing a crow problem, maybe thats it.
I just want all those little birds back.

There she is...she must have known I was talking about her

This message was edited Jan 5, 2009 9:58 AM

Mockingbirds can be very possessive, won't let anything else near what they regard as their personal food supply.

Try putting up a second feeder which can't be seen from the first. Then when the Mocker is at one, the other birds can all go to the second.

Resin

Another idea is to plant a shrub that has food attractive to mockingbirds as they actually prefer fruit or berries to seed, at least in my experience. I have a Hummingbird bush (hamelia patens) that has red berries this time of year. The mockingbirds swarm it every day. They haven't touched any of the 3 feeders I have out for the songbirds. The hummingbird bush should do well in your area. Hope this idea helps.

GARDENGLORY, We had the same mix of birds with all the websites saying Mockingbirds rarely, if ever, go to a feeder. Not so. I currently have 5 feeders spread around the yard and the MB chased everyone away. My DH got his air gun and fired several times. Must have scared him because he is gone and the other birds are back. At his moment there are at least 20 cardinals plus the flock of tufted titmouse, blackeyed junco, black capped chickadee, dove, and goldfinch and oh, a couple of bluejays. I love the mockingbird and want them around but this one really took away my joy of bird watching. DH didn't hit him nor did try.

Christi

I just had a Mockingbird in one of my Holly bushes eating the berries. He didn't care at all that I was only 2 inches from him at the window.
Hopefully I'll see the Bluebirds eating these soon.

Thanks everyone!

Funny thing about this particular bird. He.she has also taken over the two holly trees. Actually, I think it lives in them. Altho I do have other places they can eat, this feeder is right outside the window where I now sit. There is nary a bird there...not even a wren.

Lou, as you know, not only do they go to a feeder...this wone will sit in the feeder while it rains...or jus to chill.

Figure out which seed/fruit the mockingbird is eating and elliminate it from your feed. That will solve the problem. We have lots of mb around here. They come to homemade suet and popcorn. They ignore my seed feeders.
Johanna

I hope we haven't scared it away for good. It was several days ago when he fired the air gun and the poor thing hasn't been back but all of the other birds are flocking. BTW saw a Robin at the fountain yesterday. Very early for here. Usually more like March.

I have a woodpecker as we speak...makes me happy something is back...whoops...a cardinal. Well I guess they have figured out the MB's schedule and are dipping in for a bite...good for them. Not that the cardinal is going to let anyone else there either, it just doesnt stay and guard the feeder like the MB

Now there is one of those little woodpeckers with the read heads wanting in, its just hanging on the pole, whoops, big woodpecker..ok...Im liking this...the MB did not win.

This message was edited Jan 8, 2009 2:32 PM

Good news!

You could always stop feeding for a week or so and then resume. Maybe the Mockingbird will move on.

This mocker...or some generation of its family, have lived in the same honeysuckle aand holly tree, for the last 11 years. I dont know the life span of a bird, but if one has died, another has picked right up were it left off.

gg, Do you put peanuts in the shell out? I'm thinking that might bring a number of Blue Jays in and that would probably keep the Mocker from trying to scare everyone off.

Christi, Our American Robins haven't left yet up here. Not all of them anyway. :-)

Only saw the Robin once at the fountain getting a drink. He drank for what seemed like forever indicating to me he/she had not had water or rest.

Boy I would love to get a MB in my yard.

I've had this one particularly friendly MB this winter. I have a ground feeding
area under my lilac bush & no matter what time of day I go over with some seed,
the mocker seems close by & comes over. It's been as close as maybe 2ft
from my face. I talk to it & it's head just bobs side to side; it's either really listen-
ing to me or thinking , "Just shut up lady & put out the chow!". It's gotten to about
1ft from me when I've held out some seed in my hand, but not successful with
the handfeeding yet. I sure do enjoy talking with my buddy (but some of my
non-bird loving neighbors I think are ready to call the guys in the white coats
on me!). So far, tho, the MB hasn't seemed to bother the other birds.

Heavens, I talk to all the birds..in my yard, out on my walks...you just tell them it is perfectly normal! lol